Nozzle cleaners



Nov. 12, 1957 c. M AsHLEY 2,312,531

l NozzLE CLEANERS Filed June 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 12, 1957 c. M. ASHLEY NozzLE CLEANERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l. 1953 C /Ilzyv'l/ENTOR. BY 7;

linited States-Patent Oice Y2,812,531 Patented Nov. 12, 1957 NOZZLE CLEANERS Carlyle M. Ashley, Fayetteville, N. Y., assignorto Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application .lune 1, 1953, Serial No. 358,858

16 Claims. (Cl. 15-373) This invention relates to cleaners for nozzles and, more particularly, to cleaners for nozzles of air conditioning units.

A patent issued to W. H. Carrier on yNovember 21, 1944, No. 2,363,294, discloses an air conditioning system in which conditioned primary air is supplied from a central station to each room through a unit in the room. The primary air is supplied at high Velocity through nozzles, which are disposed in groups lor clusters,rin the unit. Supply of primary air at high velocity induces room air into the unit, the room air passing over a coil in the unit before mixing with the primary air prior to discharge from the unit. Either hot or cold Water yis passed through the coil depending on the particular condition of the weather.

While the primary air is filtered in the central station before being delivered to each room, dust and dirt can not be completely removed from the air at a reasonable cost. Furthermore, during its passage through the ducts, the air will tend to pick up dust and dirt therein. In some localities, adhesive, gummy material is present in the-air stream which may adhere at the point of `discharge and which may adhesively retain dust particles building a mass of such size as to block the nozzles. Due to the curved portion of the nozzle, the mass tends to collecton this curved portion. Customary Lcleaning members cannot reach this curved portion, which is disposed below the nozzle exit.

The chief object of this invention isto provide a cleaning device for orifices so yshaped as to accumulate dust and dirt particles.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for removing accumulated dust and dirt particles from the inner curved portion of the nozzle of an air conditioning unit.

Another object is to provide .a cleaning device easily operable by one person.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device that will permit cleaning of a large number of nozzles in a short period of time. Other objects Vof my invention will be readily perceived from the following description.

This invention relates toa cleaner for'orices including cleaning means, means adapted to move the cleaning means, and means adapted to guide the cleaning means into the orifices.

The attached drawingdiscloses a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which:

Figure l is a View partly in section and partly in elevation of the nozzle cleaner V"embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation taken at right .angles :to Figure l, with portions of the outer casing broken away;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of a modification of the invention, with portions broken away and in section;

Figure 4 is a View in elevation taken at right angles to Figure 3, with portions broken away and in section; and

Figure 5 4is a sectional viewof a wiper disposed within a nozzle.

Referring to the drawingsand particularly Figure l, there is shown a nozzle cleaner 2. This cleaner includes an outer casing 3, from which extends upwardly an exhaust tube 4. This exhaust tube is connected to a cup 5. The exhaust tube is preferably` welded to this cup but other suitable means may be employed, if desired. The cup is so formed that the exhaust tube tits into an opening therein and is Welded thereto. This cup is adapted to be movable in the outer casing 3 for a reason to be described hereinafter. The bottom of this cup isropen and a wiper holder 6 is disposed therein. This wiper holder is preferably connected to the cup by means of stud bolts l'l but other suitable means may be employed, if desired.

The wiper holder 6 includes a plurality of sinuous Wipers 8 extending therefrom, as clearly shown in Figure l. The sinuous wiper is preferably formed as a helix but it may have any other desired contour which will enable the curved portions of the nozzle, as hereinafter described, to be cleaned by the wiper. This wiper holder is also provided With two pilot pins 9 to permit alignment -of the wipers with the cluster of orifices or nozzles which is to be cleaned. The pilot pins are of a longer length than the wipers 8 so that the pilot pins will enter the nozzles lirst. These pilot pins serve the purpose of aligning the wipers with the cluster of nozzles. It is thus obvious that it is desirable to limit the pilot pins to the mini mum number since they are unable'to clean the nozzles. It will also be noted that it is important for the pilot pins to be in dierent rows so that the alignment is effective.

A nozzle adapter 10 is disposed in the lower portion of the outer casing and extends downwardly therefrom. This adapter has openings 11 which permit the passage of the wipers and pilot pins therethrough. As clearly shown in Figure l, the lowerportion of the adapter is so t shaped that the nozzle'will lit Vinto the lower portion of the opening 11 when the cleaning device is placed over the cluster of nozzles. g

A washer 14 is press tted on to the top ofthe outer casing 3. A clamp 15 is disposed on the exhaust tube a sufficient distance above the top of the outer casing. A spring 16V surrounds the 'exhaust tube and is disposed between the washer 14 and the clamp 15.

Considering the operation of the device, the cleaner 2 is disposed over a group of nozzles, and the nozzle adapter is positioned on top of the nozzle. The exhaust tube 4,

' which is connected to wiper holder 6 byk means of cup 5.

is then forced downwardly resulting in the wipers 8 and pilot pins 9 moving'through the openings 11 of thev adapter 1(1). If the adapter is not aligned with the nozzles, the pilot pins will not enter the nozzles. This results in having to slightly reposition .the device and then push down again on the exhaust tube 4. 4The sinuous wipers '8 are then moved into and out of the nozzles a number of times to loosen the dirt in the nozzle.

It will be understood that the making of the Wipers sinuous permits the Vwipers toreach the curved portions 17 of the nozzles 18 as shown in Figure 1. The pitch of the sinuous wiper is selectedr'so Vthat at any given position of 'the wire in the nozzle opening the portion of the Wire directly below the nozzle will be in contact with the underside of the nozzle, Thus, as thewireV assembly is raised and lowered, the portion of the wiper contactingY the underside or curved portion 4of the nozzle sweeps around the nozzle thereby 4cleaningy all parts of the nozzle. Two positions of the wiper 8, one in solid lines and the other in dotted lines, in the nozzley 18 are clearly shown in Figure 5. The wiper is shown in contact with two ydifferent segments ofthe 'eurved portion'17 of nozzle 18 depending on the distance that 'the wip-er has moved into the nozzle.

Once this dirt has been released from the surfaces of the nozzle in the vicinity of the opening, it must be removed therefrom. The preferable way of doing this isj to attach a vacuum cleaner attachment to the upper end of the exhaust tube 4. This will result in the dirt being removed from the nozzle and being carried upward through the exhaust tube to the vacuum cleaner.

While the exhaust tube 4 has been shown as being an integral piece with its upper portion bent at a 45 angle to its lower portion, it will be understood that the tube could be formed with the lower vertical portion having a 45 connection connected thereto and to which the exhaust vacum cleaner attachment would be attached.

The modification of Figures 3 and 4 discloses a nozzle cleaner 22 that would be employed with a single row of nozzles that are inclined. This nozzle cleaner includes an outer casing 23 from which extends upwardly an exhaust tube 24. A cup 25 is disposed inside the hollow outer casing 23 and connected to the exhaust tube 24. The exhaust tube and cup are preferably welded together but other suitable means may be employed for connecting the two parts. The exhaustttube passes through an opening in the cup and extends into the cup a slight distance as clearly shown in Figure 3. The lower portion of the cup 25 is open and a wiper holder 26 is disposed therein. This wiper holder is preferably connected to the cup by means of stud bolts 27 but other suitable means may be used, if desired.

A plurality of sinuous wipers 28 extends downwardly from the wiper holder 26. This particular cleaning device is adaptable for use in a single row of nozzles that are inclined; therefore, it is not necessary to provide the wiper holder with any pilot pin. Alignment is accomplished by a nozzle guide 29, which is connected to the lower portion of the outer casing 23. This guide is adapted to t over the member in which the cluster of nozzles is disposed.

A nozzle adapter 30 is disposed inside of the outer casing in the lower portion thereof and connected thereto by a suitable means. This adapter has openings 31 through which the sinuous wipers 28 pass. The lower portion 32 of the adapter is inclined, as shown in Figure 3, to permit its adaptability with the inclined nozzles.

A washer 34 is press fitted over the top of the outer easing 23. A clamp 35 is disposed on the exhaust tube 24 at a distance above the top of the outer casing. A spring 36 surrounds the exhaust tube 24 and is disposed between washer 34 and the clamp 35.

Considering the operation of this modiiication, movement of the exhaust tube 24 downward compresses the spring and, at the same time, results in moving the wiper holder with the wipers downward `into the nozzles since the tube is connected to the wiper holder by the cup 5. It will, of course, be understood that the cleaning device has been positionedover a cluster of nozzles. The wipers are run into and out of the nozzles a number of times to loosen all of the dirt. Ibis dirt is conveyed from the nozzles by means of the exhaust tube 24 to which is preferably attached a vacuum cleaner attachment. It will be understood that the exhaust tube 24 could be formed in another manner in the same way that exhaust tube 4 could be formed.

This invention has the advantage of being inexpensive and easily made. It also has the advantage of permitting the rapid cleaning of a number of units in a large building.

While I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that my invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A cleaner for nozzles including a hollow member adapted to be placed in juxtaposition with the nozzles, said hollow member including an element rectilinearly movable therein, cleaning means of sinuous configuration attached to the element, said cleaning means being adapted to be inserted into the nozzles when the element is moved within the member.

2. A cleaner according to claim l including exhaust means attached to said hollow member to convey the loosened dirt from the nozzles.

3. A cleaner for nozzles disposed in an inclined plane including a casing, a movable head within the casing, cleaning means extending from the movable head and attached thereto, a nozzle adapter having passages therethrough disposed in substantially parallel relationship in the lower portion of the casing, said nozzle adapter passages terminating at an inclined lower edge which lies at an angle to the axes of said passages, said cleaning means extending into the passages of the nozzles adapter, said movable head being adapted to be moved downward to cause the cleaning means to pass through the passage of the nozzle adapter into the nozzles to loosen the dirt from the nozzles.

4. A cleaner according to claim 3 in which the cleaning means are elongated, undulating members.

5. A cleaner according to claim 4 including a nozzle guide extending from the lower part of the casing.

6. A cleaner for nozzles disposed in an inclined plane including a casing, a movable head within the casing, sinuous wipers extending from the movable head and attached thereto, a nozzle adapter having passages therethrough disposed in the lower portion of the casing, said nozzle adapter having an inclined lower edge to cooperate with the inclined plane of the nozzles, said wipers extending into the passages of the nozzle adapter, a nozzle guide extending from the lower part of the casing, and exhaust means attached to said movable head and extending therefrom, said movable head being adapted to be moved downward by said exhaust means to cause the wipers to pass through the passages of the nozzle adapter and the nozzle guide into the nozzles to loosen the dirt from the nozzles, said exhaust means removing the loosened dirt from the nozzles.

7. A cleaner for nozzles including a casing, movable means within the casing, a plurality of elongated, undulating wipers extending from the movable means and attached thereto, said movable means being adapted to re'- ciprocate in the casing to move the wipers into the nozzles to remove the dirt from the nozzles.

8. A cleaner according to claim 7 including pilot pin means attached to the movable means and extending therefrom to align the wipers with the nozzles.

9. A cleaner according to claim 7 including suction means attached to the movable means and adapted to remove any dirt removed from the nozzles by the wipers.

l0. A cleaner for nozzles including a casing, movable means within the casing, a plurality of sinuous wipers extending from the movable means and attached thereto, exhaust means attached to the movable means, two pilot pins attached to the movable means and extending therefrom to align the wipers with the nozzles, said pilot pins having a greater length than the wipers, said movable means being adapted to reciprocate in the casing by movement of the exhaust means to move the wipers into the nozzles to remove the dirt from the nozzles, said movement of the movable means resulting in the two pilot pins entering the nozzles before the wipers, and said exhaust means being adapted to remove any dirt removed from the nozzles by the wipers.

ll. A cleaner for dislodging and removing undesirable material from a concealed surface of a member wherein access to said surface is limited to openings in the member, comprising a casing, a movable support mounted in said casing, elongated sinuous wiper means secured to said support, guide means attached to said casing, said guide means being provided with passages adapted to register with said openings and to direct the wiper means into the openings as the support is moved in a direction toward said openings and means secured to said support for providing 5 a path of iiow for the dislodged material in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the cleaning members.

12. A cleaner as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cleaning means are of helical form.

13. A cleaner for nozzles disposed in an inclined plane including a casing, a movable head within the casing, cleaning means extending from the movable head and attached thereto, a nozzle adapter having passages there through disposed in the lower portion of the casing, said cleaning means extending into the passages of the nozzle adapter, said movable head being adapted to be moved downward to cause the cleaning means to pass through the passages of the nozzle adapter into the nozzles to loosen the dirt from the nozzles, and exhaust means attached to said movable head and extending therefrom.

14. A cleaner for dislodging undesirable material from the internal divergent surfaces of a member having a small orifice wherein access to said surfaces is restricted to said small orifice comprising a casing, a support mounted in said casing for rectilinear movement, an elongated sinuous Wiper of cross sectional area which is smaller than the area of said small orifice mounted on said support, guide means on said casing, said guide means being provided with a passage adapted to register with said small orifice to direct said wiper into said oriiice as said support is moved toward said nozzle oriiice whereby said elongated sinuous wiper may enter into said member through said small oriiice to contact said internal divergent surfaces of said member to dislodge undesirable material therein.

15. A cleaner as set forth in claim 14 wherein said wiper is of helical configuration.

16. A cleaner as set forth in claim 14 including suction means coupled to said casing for exhausting said undesirable material after it has been dislodged by said wiper.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 852,737 Muirhead May 7, 1907 956,056 Eick Apr. 26, 1910 1,056,774 Brooks et al Mar. 25, 1913 1,160,077 Heinz Nov. 9, 1915 1,523,754 Chippeaux Jan. 20, 1925 1,688,936 McLean Oct. 23, 1928 1,694,371 Burdick Dec. 11, 1928 1,900,275 Carter et al. Mar. 7, 1933 2,029,668 McCardle Feb. 4, 1936 2,318,696 Linden May 11, 1943 2,631,113 OBrien Mar. 10, 1953 2,631,114 OBrien Mar. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 109,134 Austria Mar. 26, 1928 304,570 Great Britain Jan. 24, 1929 

